A Kansas man has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly shooting and killing his mother and aunt. Local authorities say the killings were planned and intentional.
The Johnson County District Attorney’s Office filed charges on Wednesday against 34-year-old Luke Anthony Howard. He is facing two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of his mother, Valerie Howard (63), and his aunt, Joyce Austin (71). Both women lived in Lenexa, Kansas.
How the Tragedy Unfolded
Police responded to the 15400 block of West 90th Street in Lenexa around 5 a.m. on Wednesday for a welfare check. Officers had been alerted after Luke Howard showed up at a Walgreens in Liberty, Missouri, covered in blood. He allegedly admitted to store employees that he had shot his mother and aunt.
When police arrived at the home, they found both women dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Luke Howard was arrested later that morning in Liberty, Missouri.
According to a criminal affidavit, Howard confessed to the murders. He reportedly told police that he killed his aunt because she was evicting him from the home. He also admitted to shooting his mother, though he did not give a specific reason.
History of Domestic Issues
Prior to the shooting, police had been called to the home twice—on Monday, February 10, and Tuesday, February 11.
On Monday, police responded to a domestic disturbance. Valerie Howard told officers that her son had entered her bedroom, broken an ashtray, and pushed her over. She also accused him of grabbing her neck. Joyce Austin, the aunt, told officers that Luke had threatened her and suffered from bipolar disorder, which made her afraid of him.
On Tuesday, Luke Howard himself called the police. He claimed that he was being kicked out of the house and said one of the women had pointed a gun at him. However, he later took back that claim. Austin confirmed to officers that she was evicting Luke and had given him 30 days to leave.
Hidden Weapons and Arrest
That same Tuesday, mental health officials from Johnson County visited the home to talk to Luke. He denied having access to any guns, and police searched his room but did not find any weapons.
However, after the shooting, Austin’s son, Steve, told police that he knew Luke owned a carbine rifle and a Glock handgun. He also mentioned that his mother had a 9mm handgun.
Luke Howard is currently being held in Missouri before he is transferred to Johnson County, Kansas, to face murder charges. So far, a court date for his first hearing has not been set.
